I think BC is heavily into soft factors this cycle. I've found several people who got in who have both lower GPAs and LSATs than me, but most of them are varsity athletes, non-traditionals, or spent time in the military.

This is how all schools should do their admissions.

Yeah says you. Let's have all admissions decisions based on who can join the most clubs instead of who has better numbers.

You're right: If it was simply judging someone by the QUANTITY of interests outside of schoolwork the process of judging people by those soft factors would be worthless.

What I meant and was responding to was the judgment that BC weighed the QUALITY of soft factors like demonstrated leadership skills as playing a significant role in their decision-making process.

Being a great attorney is not the same as being a great student. There is an intellectual overlap, but it is equally important to possess judgment that people trust, the ability to put someone else's interests before your own, and the negotiating skills to reach favorable compromises. These are soft factors that are better understood by admissions offices through work that each applicant has done outside the classroom.

To have over the long-term the most successful alumni, law schools should do their best to weigh these soft factors along with class work and the LSAT. Some schools do, many don't.

I think Vermont has an underrated program. Plus its specialty is an area that will only loom larger over almost every facet of life during the next 20 years. Americans as a whole are only growing more environmentally conscious from land use issues to pollution.

I think BC is heavily into soft factors this cycle. I've found several people who got in who have both lower GPAs and LSATs than me, but most of them are varsity athletes, non-traditionals, or spent time in the military.

Anyone know how Vermont places for environmental jobs in Boston? Does the joint J.D./M.S.E.L. (Master of Studies in Environmental Law) compare well to students coming out of BC (for example) who studied a more general J.D. curriculum but want to work in environmental law?

After reading annita's response to Denny Crane I thought she was showboating too, but decided not to call her on it. Seeing now that I'm not the only one who thought her response to Denny unveiled a false dilemma I'll say that, annita, you should learn from that. Being a good attorney is not just about knowing the law. It is also about understanding people, communication, and trust.